Acid-absorbing apparatus.



P. A. PAULSON.

ACID ABSORBING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED 11m11.191s.

1,165,281. 1 Patented Deo. 21, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET i.

P. A. PAULSON.

ACID ABSORBING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION, FILED MAY l1. 1915.

1,165,281. Patented 1190.21, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

y Ivar/51,2507? narran srnrns riaranr ersten PETER A. PAULSON, OFAPPLETON, WISCONSIN.

i ACID-Ansomame- APPARATUS.

apparatus, and particularly to towers for the preparation of -calcium'bisulite solutions and for like purposes.

It is well known that recent practice-in' the preparation of calciumbisulite solutions requires that these solutions should be substantiallysaturated with uncombined sulfurous acid. Inasmuch as it has not provenpracticable in the past vto prepare such solutions in a singleoperation, it is customary lto complete the saturation of the solutionsin a supplementary device known as the auxiliary tower. v

The apparatus hereinafter described is capable of delivering thebisulfite solution at .the required degree of saturation, and recourseto an auxiliary tower or equivalent device is therefore unnecessary.This results in a material saving in the initial cost ofinstallation,infloor space, and in operating expenses.

Furthermore, the present apparatus is capable of sustained operation forlong periods without clogging, requiring at the most a weekly cleaning;and'it is not dependent upon the gas-pressure to retain the proper depthof liquid in each compartment.

The apparatus also possesses other structural and operating advantagesas will hereinafter appear.

vThe preferred construction is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,wherein- Figure 41 is acentral vertical sectional view, on line I-I ofFig. 2 .of an absorbing tower embodying the invention; and Fig.2 is ahorizontal section thereof on line H-H of Fig. 1.

vIn said drawings, 10 represents a cylindrical steel shell, internallylinedwith acidproof tile or other suitable material 11, and subdividedby horizontal partitions 12 into superposed absorbing chambers orcompartments 13. Five such compartments are illustrated, but it will beunderstood that a larger or a smaller number may be provided accordingto the operating conditions. A gas-distributer 14 is arrangedin eachcham- Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

Application inea May 11, 1915. serial No. 27,332.

ber. In their preferred form, thfese distributers are shallow stonewarespreaders of reven curvature, which may be of sectional construction,and have an axial connection withthe respective gas-conduits. They arepreferably uniformly perforated over their entire area, as indicatedl at15, and are likewise serrated at the periphery 16. The gasdistributersare disposed wholly below the liquid level, and slightly above 'andparallel to the partitions '12. They extend over nearly the entire'floorarea of the respective compartments, leaving however an amplel,peripheral gas-channel 17, which serves as a safety-passage for thegases in case of the clogging of some or all of the.t perforations 15.

The gases enter the lowermost compart,

ment at 18, and after bubbling evenly through the entire body of liquidtherein the unabsorbed gas flows through the conduit '19 to the axis ofthe distributer 14 in the compartment next above, and' so on upwardly,the residual gases escaping from the uppermost compartment at 21. Eachconduit 19 is in the form of an inverted U, the

reiexed portion20 of whichl is located in the gas space of thecompartment.

The `milk of lime is supplied continuously to the upper compartment at22 and flows downwardly through the tower, the fully saturated bisulfatesolution finally overflow-` ing from the lowermost compartment at 23.Each compartment is provided with a fixed overflow 24, located at alevel between the gas-spreader 14 and the reflected portion 20 of thegas-conduit leadingthereto, and delivering into the lower portion of thecompartment next below. This construction insures a suflicient depth ofliquid in each compartment irrespective of any variationsin thegas-pressure.

Each compartment is fitted with a suitable level-indicator 25 (Fig. 2)and with a manhole 26 of suflicient size tio/permit removal andreplacement of the sectional portions of the interior fittings. Washoutopenings 27, which are of course closed in normal operation, areprovided in connection with each compartment.

In the preparation of bisullite solutions certain well-knowndifficulties are encountered. The dissolved and (suspended limeintroduced at the upper portion of the tower is transformedprogressively into calcium mono-sullite and calcium bisulfite, theformacium sulfate which tends to deposit in thinscales upon everythingwith which it comes in Contact; and the free sulfur likewise ten'ds todeposit in such manner as to obstruct all gas-passages. It will readilybe understood that under these conditions it is' imperative that thereshould be no quiescent bodies 'of liquid inthe apparatus, as thesewould'perr.

mit the accumulation ofl .deposited matter, quickly clogging the tower.In case the apertures of the gas-distributers eventually become cloggeda corresponding proportion of the gas escapes around the serratedperiphery, thus maintaining, even under adverse condltions, a freepassage for the gas' and a reasonably effective absorption of the sulfurdioxid. As above stated, the eiciency of the apparatus is such that ithas been found practicable to produce calcium bisulte solutionscompletely saturated with uncoinbined sulfurous acid without recourse totheusual auxiliary tower or'to any equiva lent supplemental absorbingdevice.

I claim 1. In apparatus for preparing bisulite solutions or likepurposes, a series of superposed chambers constituting a tower, an

arched gas-distributer supported in proximity to the bottom of eachchamber and eX- tending nearly to the walls thereof, a reflexedgas-conduit extending from the peripheral portion of each chamber to thegasdistributer.- in the chamber next above, and an acid overfiow in eachchamber located at a level intermediate the gas-distributer and thereflexed portion of the gas-conduit, and y discharging into the chambernext below.

2. In apparatus for preparing bisulite sovlutions or like purposes, aseries of superposed' chambers constituting a tower, an archedgas-'distributer supported in proximity to the bottom of each chamberand extending nearly to the walls thereof, said gas-distributer having`aserrated periphery,

a reflexed gas-conduit extending from the peripheral portion of. eachchamber to the gas-distributer in the chamber next above, and an acidoverflow in each chamber located at a `level intermediate thegas-distributer and the reflexed portion of the gas-conduit,

`anddischarging into the chamber' next below.

3. In apparatus for preparing bisulfite sof lutions or like purposes, aseries of superposed chambers constituting a tower, an arched perforatedgas-distributer supported in proximity to the bottom of each chamber andextending nearly to the walls thereof, a reflexed gas-conduit extendingfromv each chamber to the gas-distributer in the chamber next above, andan acid overflow in each chamber located at a level intermediatev thegas-distributer and the reflexed portion o f the gas-conduit, anddischarging into the chamber next below. l

4. In apparatus for preparing bisulite solutions o'r like purposes, aseries/of super.- posed chambers constituting a tower, an archedperforated gas-distributer supported l in-proximity tothe bottomv ofeach chamber and extending nearly to the `walls thereof, saidgas-distributer having a serrated periphery, a reflexed gas-conduitextending from each chamber to the gas-distributer in the chamber nextabove, and an acid overflow in each chamber located at a levelintermediatel the gas-distributer and the reiiexed portion of thegas-conduit, and discharging into the chamber next below. A p

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses',v

PETER A PAULSON.

Witnesses JOSEPH SANDHOFER, M. J. SIMON. l

It is hereby certified thm; in Letters Petent'N @1,165,281 grantedDecember 21,

1915, upon the application of Peter A. Paulson', of Appleton, Wisconsin,foren improYement in Acid-Absorbing Apparatus," errorsl appear in theprinted speeica.

tion requiring correction as follows: Page 1, line 88, for the Word'bisu'l'fate rea bisuljte; Sam-e page, line 92,for the word reectedWreadrejlexel; and that the `seid Letters Patent should be read with vthesecorrections therein that'the same may conform to thelrecord of the casein the' Patent Oce.

Signed and sealed this 19th day of June, A. D., 1917.

[SEAL] F. W. H. CLAY',

Acting Commissioner of Patente.

